Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri believes Jamie Vardy will be 100% mentally fit for Manchester United, even if he is not 100% ready physically. The 28-year-old can become the first man to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches if he can find the back of the net against Louis van Gaal's side on 28 November.

Despite carrying a hip injury, Vardy scored his 10th consecutive goal in the 3-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on 21 November, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy's record. The striker had spent a week undergoing treatment to recover from the knock suffered while on international duty with England but Ranieri believes he will be ready to help his side retain their spot at the summit of the Premier League table.

"He is fit of course," Ranieri said of the striker at his pre-match press conference, the club's official website reports. "We manage him in a different way. He is also under the hands of our physio. We speak every morning about what the best training session is for him, but he is fit. Everybody else is OK. I think his mind is 100%. He is always fit. Always 100%."

Vardy and teammate Riyad Mahrez have been the two most influential figures in the Foxes' rise to the top of the league, form that has inevitably seen the pair linked with moves elsewhere. But Ranieri is confident the plans he has in place at the King Power Stadium will be enough to convince the duo to stay should they receive offers.

"I think we are building a very good construction," the Leicester boss continued. "I understand if somebody wants to go but I believe in the next year, Leicester, slowly, slowly, can grow up and battle with the top. At the moment we are very happy and also Jamie is happy with us and he can continue to show his strength with us. Jamie, Riyad, everyone. This is our project. I spoke to the owners not now, in July, People believe in me – I believe in me too."